25 Cows Killed in Minden Truck Crash

Photo courtesy Douglas County Sheriff's Office

MINDEN, NV - 25 cows were killed when a tractor towing a semi-trailer crashed on State Route 88 at the intersection with Waterloo Lane in Douglas County.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, the two-vehicle crash happened at 3:53pm on Tuesday. Troopers believe 25-year-old Grant T. Terpstra of Stockton, California ran a red light and hit the right side of a Subaru traveling west on Waterloo Lane. After striking the Subaru, the big rig struck a light pole, knocking out power to thousands of NV Energy customers.

The driver of the Subaru, 61-year-old George N. Jaqua of Stateline, was injured in the crash and airlifted from the scene to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno for non-life-threatening injuries. Terpstra was not injured.

25 cows died in the crash and the remaining 41 were either not hurt or had minor injuries. The surviving cows were taken to a local ranch. The cattle were being transported from Yerington to Escalon, California.

The intersection was closed for nearly six hours while troopers and other personnel investigated and cleared the scene. Terpstra was cited for failing to obey a traffic signal light.

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